Andrew Scott Newton

By Stephanie Hornback

Balltown native Andrew Scott Newton’s overall dream as a musician is to play to a sold-out arena. He will get one step closer to that dream Monday, June 14, at a concert to release his first CD, “The Road to Here,” 6:30 p.m. at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre. The event is free and open to the public.

Newton, 25, cut the CD in March at Omni Sound Studios in Nashville. It includes seven original songs he wrote from age 15 until earlier this year — “Bourbon City High,” “Coming Home,” “Do It All Again,” “I Can Be the One,” “You Are,” “Falling” and “Taking a Ride.” The CD was engineered by Jon Kunz, who also engineered CDs for Brooks and Dunn in the 1990s.

When he walked into the studio and saw the platinum records of other artists who had produced CDs there, including Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Jewel and Randy Travis, Newton was slightly intimidated. But his fear subsided when he began recording his songs with musicians who had played with the likes of Dave Matthews and Montgomery Gentry. One of them, Moose Brown, wrote “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere” for Alan Jackson and produced a CD for country singer Jamey Johnson.

The accomplished musicians were complimentary of his songs, Newton said, which made the experience that much more surreal.

“The feeling was indescribable because I’d been waiting to cut a professionally engineered CD for years,” Newton said.

Making a CD takes a substantial chunk of change, however. Newton said he was fortunate this year to get financial assistance from a good friend who is also a fan.

The winner of the 2009 Colgate Country Showdown state title and runner-up in the southeast regional competition, Newton began playing music when he was 10 years old. The guitar became his instrument of choice because his father, looking for a way to discourage him from playing drums in the house, told him if he would take guitar lessons and learn to play three complete songs, he could have a set of drums. Newton met the challenge and got his drums, but the guitar remained his specialty. He credits support from his parents, Jim and Sharon Newton, for the success he has enjoyed so far. Newton also appreciates his fiancée, Robyn Thomas, for putting up with his late hours, and said his 18-month-old daughter, Emery, is the light of his life.

Newton lost the southeast regional Colgate Country Showdown competition after tying with the winner, who went on to take the national title.

“This last year has been such a boost for me musically,” Newton said. Competitions such as Colgate Country Showdown can take a musician from local to national exposure, he said. He hopes the CD will continue his run of good luck.

“This CD will hopefully open up some things for me,” he said.

His main goals for the CD are to get his material circulated and have something tangible to give to the connections he has made in the music business.

The $10 CD will be available the night of the show, along with other merchandise including T-shirts and drink koozies. The CD will also be sold at Wooden Duck and on iTunes, Amazon.com, Rhapsody and Napster.

The June 14 show will open with acoustic duo Sixty-Four West out of Louisville, followed by Ashley McBryde, 2009 winner of the Tennessee Colgate Country Showdown. Newton will close out the concert. He hopes to have good attendance, as feeding off the energy of the crowd is addictive and what keeps him working toward his dream, he said.

Newton is also bolstered by the overwhelming support of the community. He thanks everyone who has stood behind him. - The Kentucky Standard

By STAFF REPORT

Andrew Scott Newton’s Colgate Country Showdown winning streak ended Saturday in Rock Hill, S.C. -- but just barely. Newton came in runner-up in the Southeast Regional Final after losing a tie-breaker to Karla Davis, winner of the Rock Hill competition and the Carolinas’ representative in the regional contest.

Newton, 24, competed against eight others Saturday. The 24-year-old Balltown resident advanced to the South Carolina competition after winning the local Colgate Country Showdown in June and the state contest in August. At all performances, he performed two original songs -- “Coming Home” and “I Can Be the One.”

A popular local musician, Newton regularly performs at Old Talbott Tavern, Rockin’ Robyn’s and Bearno’s. He has been interested in music since he was a child.

Prior to Saturday’s competition, Newton said he was humbled by the tremendous community support he has received as he strives to make something out of his music career. - The Kentucky Standard

By LISA TOLLIVER

Andrew Scott Newton wasn’t nervous until he was about to go on stage and sing.

“I usually don’t have stage fright,” the 24-year-old singer/songwriter from Balltown said.

Newton has been singing and performing since he was old enough to hold a guitar. He’s always like the idea of entertaining people.

But the 12,000 people in the audience was the biggest crowd he had ever played for and the thought of it made the butterflies in his stomach start fluttering.

When he started singer, however, those butterflies were gone and Newton had once again found his comfort zone on stage singing.

Newton used the energy of the crowd, those butterflies and two original songs to win the state competition of the Colgate Country Music Showdown Friday night at Fourth Street Live in Louisville.

He didn’t really expect to win.

“There was so much good competition,” Newton said.

He competed against seven other acts and Newton had his favorites. He had already picked out the one he wanted to win if he couldn't. But Newton did win and he now goes on to the regional competition in Mitchell, S.D., at the Corn Palace Nov. 7. The winner there will go to Nashville and compete against the other region winners in a televised competition for a chance at $100,000.

Newton got the chance to compete Friday after winning the local competition at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre in June.

The songs he sang at the state competition Friday were the same ones he sang at the local competition in June a fast diddy called “Coming Home” and a slower tune titled “I Can Be the One.”

Unless he writes something better between now and the time of the regional finals, he plans to stick with those songs for the South Dakota competition as well.

But while he prepares, Newton plans on continuing his local singing gigs. He plays every Wednesday night at the Talbott Tavern and plays when he can at Rockin’ Robyn’s and Bearno’s Pizza. His local shows have created a rather large fan base for him and several came out Friday to watch him perform in Louisville. It's that fan support that really humbles and surprises him.

“There was just so much support,” he said. “There’s a lot of kind people in Bardstown who made it out. Win or lose,that was the greatest part about the whole thing.”

Although his next step in the competition is South Dakota, Newton is thinking behind November. His ultimate goal is to reach the highest levels he can attain with his music.

“I’m not the world’s greatest singer or guitar player,” he said. “I just enjoy entertaining people.” - The Kentucky Standard

Sometimes nice guys do finish first.

That was certainly the case Thursday night at the WBRT Colgate Country Showdown when the judges picked Andrew Scott Newton as the winner.

The Balltown resident is known not only as a talented singer-songwriter but also one of the most easy going entertainers in this region.

Last year he finished as runner-up in the contest but this time around he will get to carry the local banner up to Louisville next month when he takes part in the state competition.

Newton has been associated with Stephen Foster Productions for the past few years as a featured performer in the “Live at the Park” beer garden. He was also deeply involved in the Drama “Troubadours” fund- raisers including the “Drama-a-thon” at the Bardstown-Nelson County Civic Center.

We wish Andrew the best as he moves to phase II in his quest for the $100,000 first-place prize money and national fame. - The Kentucky Standard

Andrew Scott Newton isn't a superhero, and he doesn't have a secret identity. But he lives his life in two different worlds. By day, he is a mild-mannered college student and computer repairman. At night the 21-year old Balltown man becomes a singer and guitarist, full of soul.
Balancing a life fixing computers for Best Buy's Geek Squad, finishing his degree in Computer Information Technology, and being a musician isn't that hard, he says.
While his knowledge of computers keeps his bills paid, his passion for writing and singing his songs is how Newton spends most of his free time. He has a regular Wednesday night show in Loretto at Cozy Corner, plays a few Sunday evenings at The Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, and warms up the crowd in the Budweiser Beer Garden prior to all this summer's special concerts at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheater. These shows include such acts as Nashville recording artist, Billy Currington.
At the age of 9, he begged his parents, Jim and Sharon, to buy him a set of drums. They told him the house was too small and opted to give him a guitar and lessons for the instrument, instead.
In time, he got the drums anxd eventually played with a rock 'n roll band, Bad Stratus for a few years. He also occasionally plays as a fil-in with several other bands in the area when they are in need of a drummer.
Newton, a 2003 graduate of Nelson County High School, spent a bit of time attending the University of Kentucky in Lexington. That's where he really got the itch to start playing music more frequently.
"I'd play at a party or a small bar when I lived there." Newton said.
"I realized it was a great way to make a bit of money and have a lot of fun."
He also sold more than 300 copies of his CD, "Time Passes By" The Newton recording was done in his apartment with no outside assistance. It features nine original songs and a cover of the Beatles' tune "Yesterday."
When he plays live taking requests and playing his original tunes is something Newton said he enjoys
"I know so many different types of music, there's a good chance I'll play something they wanna hear," he said.
He cites Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Mayer as two of his favorite and inspirational contemporary acts. Among those from the past he said have influenced his sound are John Fogerty, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Johnny Cash.
Despite his frequent shows ans sales of his CD, Newton sayd he will still continue his education and keep his job with Geek Squad.
"The streak of people wanting to hear me might not last forever and I need something reliable to fall back on," he says. Besides, people will always need thier computers fixed.

++Brian Walker(2006)
- The Kentucky Standard (2006)